Every second of my short time training has been about taking aikido principles of the mat and into the rest of my life. I can truthfully say that the longer I train the fewer conflicts I cause, the fewer confrontations become conflicts and I couldn't say HOW that happens, it just does.

I follow similar lines of practice to yours off the mat. I agree that certainly with this mindset, confrontations become fewer and are resolved more amicably but for me, some situations [kids esp.] seem too emotionally charged to get any focus on the likes of blending and centering...